What will the Liberal resignations mean for Premier Clark?
Posted August 30, 2012 11:32 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – The resignations of four Liberal MLAs in the past two days could put the pressure on the premier to step down before next May.
News1130 is speaking with an expert on whether Christy Clark will have to walk the plank.
Dennis Pilon at York University says there’s chance the Premier could be forced out by backroom operatives who donate big money and hold a lot of influence. But says doing that is tough and points to an example from the early 1990s.
“Remember Vander Zalm? MLAs were dropping like flies from his government. But he wouldn’t step down until finally at the point he did exit, he had destroyed the party,” explains Pilon.
He thinks it’s more likely Premier Clark will push on hoping the polls are wrong and that she can lead the Liberals to another electoral victory. “She could try to see the silver lining and say ‘Well… it’s the summer… clearly, I get the message, British Columbia. You’ve been unhappy with some of the things the Liberal party has done.'”
Pilon points out in the end, it will be up to the voters.
George Abbott, Mary McNeil and John Les confirmed this morning they will not seek re-election in the spring. Kevin Falcon made the same announcement yesterday, plus resigned from his post as finance minister.
